1
as in overpowering
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2
as in crushing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in staggering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in devastating
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flooding
to cover with a flood
that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwhelming
Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Some stores even delayed openings or temporarily closed because of safety concerns tied to the overwhelming demand.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The Royals have scored six or more runs in eight of their first 19 home games, triggering the deal repeatedly and overwhelming the chain’s 27 locations.
—Ian Cummings, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Adjective
In the overwhelming majority of states, a judgment creditor is limited to the remedy of a charging order against a debtor/member's interest in an LLC or partnership.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Some stores even delayed openings or temporarily closed because of safety concerns tied to the overwhelming demand.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
Verb
Through its trademark, Federal Retirement Made Simple™, this observation has informed FEBA’s ongoing focus on education, with an emphasis on making complex systems more understandable without overwhelming the individual.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The Royals have scored six or more runs in eight of their first 19 home games, triggering the deal repeatedly and overwhelming the chain’s 27 locations.
—Ian Cummings, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overwhelming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelming
Adjective
-
There was no overpowering onion, which drives me nuts in potato salad.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And that makes his collapse all the more crushing.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Even the laughs and smiles that Joe and Kate Keller issue are fleeting, a respite from the journey toward a more crushing reality.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
At its peak, the wave surged to a staggering 1,578 feet (481 meters) above sea level.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
This staggering statistic has probably worsened due to the current global economy.—
Bridgette Bartlett Royall,
Essence,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Initial tests suggested the outbreak does not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which caused Congo’s devastating 2018–2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Captiva Though the recovery isn’t totally complete, Captiva is bouncing back from both 2022’s devastating Hurricane Ian and the rough 2024 hurricane season.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Now that oil prices are surging from the conflict with Iran, money is flooding into the state treasury and creating an uncomfortable situation for Democrats who oppose the war and would rather reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.—
Morgan Lee,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
Later that summer, lingering moisture from Tropical Storm Mario contributed to flooding rains across portions of the southwestern United States on September 17-18, the hurricane center concluded in its post-storm report.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The needle drops, which include Lennon songs and Beatles songs, are impeccable and irresistible.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
What’s more, dill flowers are irresistible to parasitic wasps that will feed on squash vine borers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a city in the grip of a housing crisis, that delay was unacceptable.—
Michelle de la Uz,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
-
Bans on unacceptable-risk AI have applied since February 2025, according to the European Commission.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
But once that stupendous on-screen chemistry between co-stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen kicks back in, the old magic shines through, strong as ever, giving us a fitting end to this beloved comic saga.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
The upshot is that with enough qubits, a quantum computer could handle the stupendous computational challenge of accurately simulating a hypothetical magnetic material.—
Glenn Zorpette,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelming. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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